The book charts Morgan's progress as she sets about reading a book from each country in the world—only to realise she had also to answer the questions, "What is a country?" and "What do we mean by the term 'book'?".

Shavit said: "Ann Morgan's journey is a cultural map of the world through books. Importantly, it's also about how place-the world and the countries dividing or uniting it-shapes the books we read and write. It's at the very heart of what Harvill Secker is about. We couldn't be more delighted to have acquired this brilliant debut."

The publisher said the book will appeal to Bill Bryson, Nick Hornby, Elif Batuman and Anne Fadiman readers.